Helping young people afford a university education

I can think of no bigger barrier to going to university than the prospect of its unaffordability. For those from less wealthy backgrounds are bound to worry because they will graduate with a huge amount of debt.

The Conservative and Liberal Democrat government’s decision to raise tuition fees to £9,000 means students are graduating with an average debt of £44,000.

I cannot imagine that anyone would be delighted with the idea of beginning one’s working life by being weighed down by that much debt.

An incoming Labour Government will tackle this. An incoming Labour Government promises a significant reduction in tuition fees, lowering the cap from the current £9000 to £6000. This would kick in in September 2016. Additional grants are also promised for students from low and middle-income backgrounds.

This decision allows the aspirations of our young to be fulfilled. This will benefit those who pay these tuition fees, and it benefits society as a whole. An educated society is a better society, and we should not be putting barriers in the way of those who wish to be educated, and want to better themselves. Lowering the debt burden on those who are starting their adult working lives has got to be a good thing.

This is another example of Labour’s better plan for working families.

This change will be funded by restricting pension tax relief for those on the highest incomes. And the increase in student grants will be paid for by asking the highest earning graduates to contribute a little more.

We all want our children and young people to succeed in the future. Under this government, they are being badly let down but this won’t happen under Labour. We will ensure that the next generation isn’t left behind.